Chapter 59: The Villain's Ending is Only Death
A chilling silence descended upon the carriage as if someone had poured cold water inside.
"Haha. It's over, it's over."
I laughed, feeling a sense of liberation.
"ā¦Did Penelope give it to you?"
Derrick asked in a voice that had grown even lower. For some reason, it seemed tinged with anger, making me shudder.
Unaware of the tension, the Duke chuckled and further provoked them.
"Hmm. You guys too. You should have been nicer. With such personalities, no wonder you're not popular with women, tsk tsk."
Randall laughed in disbelief.
At that moment, Derrick, who had been silently watching the Duke, suddenly turned his gaze toward me.
His azure pupils swirled with an indescribable emotion.
He tried to say something in a strained voice but then closed his mouth and turned his head away. Then,
'Ah, why! What's the big deal about giving a charm!'
I felt a surge of injustice at how easily the hard mode's affinity dropped.
As we approached the palace, the carriage's speed suddenly slowed down.
Glancing out the window, I saw a long line of carriages stretching from the entrance.
"Why is it taking so long?"
I was puzzled, as the last banquet had passed through without any lines.
The Duke answered my unspoken question.
"They are checking for lethal magical weapons, monsters, and mages."
"Yes. Since the Crown Prince is hosting the hunting competition, they will thoroughly search to ensure everyone's safety."
I nodded in agreement, understanding the necessity.
The Crown Prince, a war hero, had many enemies both inside and outside the empire.
Before ascending the throne, he would likely face constant threats and surveillance.
'No wonder his personality is a mess.'
I understood his crazy nature.
However, this did not mean I felt any sympathy. I was the most pitiful one here.
'But if they are checking for magesā¦ can Bouter not participate?'
This thought didn't last long as the Duke's carriage soon reached the checkpoint.
We passed through easily.
While my crossbow's beads triggered the magic-detecting crystal, they were clearly for hunting and posed no problem.
A palace mage completed the inspection and returned my crossbow case to Emily, who was in another carriage.
"What are you planning this time? You certainly came well-prepared."
Randall sneered, looking out the window.
Derrick, seemingly in agreement, sighed and glanced at me with disdain.
The Duke, who had prepared everything meticulously, cleared his throat uncomfortably, and I felt a renewed sense of injustice.
The venue for the pre-banquet was a spacious garden near the hunting grounds.
True to the palace's grandeur, the outdoor setting was beautifully decorated.
Colorful flowers and elegant ribbons enhanced the beauty of the garden.
Tall hedges, adorned with lavish lighting, surrounded the venue, ensuring privacy.
Many guests had already arrived, and servants bustled between the circular tables set up for each family.
The Duke and my two older brothers immediately went to check the cabins and horses they would use during the competition.
Thus, I had to enter the garden alone, with only Emily following me.
'Where is he? Hasn't he arrived yet?'
I scanned the crowd of nobles, trying to locate the Crown Prince.
I needed to know his position in case he suddenly appeared, which made my heart race.
'I should have followed the others and come togetherā¦'
Even if the Crown Prince was a madman, he wouldn't try to kill me with so many members of the Duke's family present.
I was regretting my decision.
Suddenly, a harsh whisper reached my ears.
"How audacious. Even though the ban has been lifted, how dare she show her face here?"
"Exactly. How does Duke Ecart raise his childrenā¦"
"Oh, my lady! Don't say such things. No matter how much education they receive, commoners remain commoners."
Clearly, they were talking about me.
I frowned and looked around to find the source.
However, I couldn't pinpoint it, as everyone in the garden was whispering about me.
Well, considering I was last year's superstar, it was understandable.
Still, being criticized was frustrating.
I realized I wasn't in a position to calmly analyze the Crown Prince's personality or the reasons behind it.
Penelope, too, had enemies both inside and outside, which explained why she had taken the path of tyranny.
"Ugh! Look at that cheap dress."
"A young lady who hasn't even had her coming-of-age ceremony, and she has no shameā¦"
Emily's face was gloomy, having chosen a dress to highlight my beauty.
This was the fourth time I had been insulted about my clothes today.
'They say three strikes and you're out.'
Since I had surpassed three, was it now acceptable to cause a scene?
I called the maid in a low voice that everyone could hear.
"Yes, Miss! I'll bring it right away!"
She then turned and walked away, her voice much louder than mine.
When she had shivered in fear at the thought of such a terrifying order, I couldn't help but chuckle.
The murmurs that had filled the air moments ago suddenly ceased.
'Why don't you say one more thing?'
I lifted my chin arrogantly and scanned the crowd.
Each person I met flinched noticeably and quickly turned away, which was amusing.
Despite being left alone, with even my maid gone, no one dared to speak out.
'No one wants to be hit by the madwoman's crossbow, I suppose.'
I put aside my plan to locate the Crown Prince.
Fortunately, he hadn't arrived yet.
If he were here, he wouldn't have let my behavior go unnoticed.
I moved to the Ecart family's table and sat down, crossing my legs and calling a passing servant.
"Bring me some wine. The bottle, not a glass."
As I set the final example of a reckless person in people's minds, gasps echoed around me.
A short while later, Emily returned with the crossbow case.
She was out of breath, having run hard to fetch it.
Emily smiled smugly at my praise, the same wicked smile she had given me when she woke me up with a needle.
I placed the case on the table and took out the crossbow.
I began to load the beads ostentatiously.
Click, click. Click, clickā¦
The quiet hall was filled only with the eerie sound of the steel beads being loaded.
"Oh my! Someone, please stop herā¦"
"Should we call the guards?"
Whispers came from somewhere.
Ignoring them, I even started to turn the crank.
"Hah. What are you doing?"
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew over my head. Looking up, I saw the Duke and his sons had arrived.
Their presence brought a noticeable sigh of relief from the crowd.
"You're just waiting for it, aren't you? Now that you're called a chimpanzee, you're preparing to shoot?"
Randall asked, incredulous.
Click. Having finished loading, I slung the crossbow behind my back without looking at him and replied.
"Can't you see everyone is staring at you? Do you know what kind of shame you'll bringā¦"
The Duke warned him as his voice grew louder.
Randall scanned the crowd and leaned in to whisper to me.
"ā¦Are you really going to sit there in such a ridiculous outfit, you madwoman?"
His whispered curse was chilling.
Even I thought my appearance, with a grand crossbow slung over a beautiful dress, was absurd.
Explaining that it was for my own protection would be futile.
Another person was looking at me as if I were insane.
"The ban has been lifted after a year. It's best not to act rashly."
"Father has given his permission."
I had no choice but to use the most convincing excuse. Randall's eyes sparkled as he asked eagerly.
The Duke's stern look made me flinch slightly.
Fortunately, he clicked his tongue in disapproval but didn't deny it.
"ā¦No one said you can't bring hunting weapons to the banquet. Stop making a fuss and sit down."
"But Father! She already has a clear recordā¦"
"Ah! Don't you trust your sister? She says she has deeply reflected, so let's see."
The Duke turned to me and warned.
"If you cause trouble again, I'll leave you to the palace prison, understand?"
"Of course! Trust me, Father."
Randall, who had a lot to say, finally closed his mouth and sat down roughly on my left.
His glare at me, who was smirking, was murderous.
'Hehe. If you're upset, you could buy an amulet too.'
I was very satisfied with the amulet's power. I had made the right choice in giving it to the Duke.